Rail-spike lock



PATENT OFFlCE.

EDWARD K. DEGENER, OF LEWISTOWN, MONTANA.

RAIL-SPIKE LOCK.

Application filed July 12, 1920.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD K. DEGENER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewistown, in the county of Fergus and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Spike Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail spike locks for securely locking a rail spike in position with respect to a rail.

An important object of the invention the provision of a rail spike lock which will successfully hold a rail spike in such a position that the spike head will overlie the foot of the rail and be locked in such position against any stresses or strains incident to the passing over the rail of heavy rolling stock. A

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rail spike lock of simple and effective construction which can be used in conjunction with standard railway construction.

A further object of the invention is. the provision of arail spike lock which will effectively perform its locking function and vet be easily released from engagement with the spike during maintenance or repair work without damage to itself or mutilation to any of its associated parts.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a rail, a rail bed plate, and a tie of standard construction, showing the manner in which the spike locking clip is associated with a spike of standard construction7 in performing the necessary step whereby the spike may be locked into position with respect to the rail.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the spike locking clip.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the letter A designates a T-rail of standard construction, resting upon the rail bed plate B also of standard construction, which in turn is supported by a tie C of ordinary construction. A spike Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Serial No. 395.571.

D of ordinary construction is provided for the purpose of maintaining the rail in position with respect to the rail plate B and tie C. A locking clip E is provided for the purpose of securely locking the spikes into such position.

In the ordinary construction of the rail bed plate. B apertures are provided therein for the reception of the shank 6 of the rail spike D and all of slightly larger width than the width of the shank 6 of the spike D thus providing a small clearance between the surface of the shank 6 and the interior face of the aperture 5. It is preferred to make the locking clip E of a thickness equal to or slightly smaller than this clearance. rlhe locking clip E is of approximately the same width as the shank 6 and comprises a wedgeshaped portion 7 the sides of which are cut away as at 10 and 11 and converging into a point 8. The upper and lower surfaces 12 and 13 respectively of the wedge shaped portion 7 are gradually tapered to this point S. A relatively longer portion 9 is provided substantially at right angles to the portion T, preferably several times the length of the portion 7 and of uniform thickness throughout its length. rlhe upper end or that part remote from the portion 7 is preferably bent at a slight angle or slightly curved as at 15, .while the corners 16 and 17 thereof are beveled.

In attaching the rail spike lock the wedge shaped portion 7 thereof is first inserted into the aperture 5 of the rail bed plate 13 and in such manner that the point 8 thereof is directed in a line away from the rail and substantially at right angles to the longie tudinal run of the rail A. It is furthermore so inserted into the aperture 5 that the surface 13 thereof rests or abuts upon the surface of the tie C, and the portion 9 of the clip E projects from the aperture 5. The point of the spike D is next inserted into the aperture 5 in the ordinary manner, but so arranged that the point 18 thereof cornes into contact with the rear surface 19 of the extending portion 9. An ordinary rail spike hammer is now used to drive the spike into position in the tie C, and as the point 18 is driven into the tie, it will force the wedge shaped portion 7 between the abutting surfaces of the tie C and bed plate B in such manner that the spike clip is firmly locked or maintained therebetween. After the spike has been driven into its usual position so that the head E20 thereof overlies the toot 2l of the rail A, the upper end 15 of the relatively long portion 9 is hammered or bent so that it overlies the head 20 of the spike D and securely locks the spike D into its position on the rail A. It will thus be seen that the spike D cannot be withdrawn until the portion l5 which overlies the head of the spike is bent back out of engagement with the head of the spike D.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. As an article of manufacture, a rail spike lock, in clip form, comprising a small pointed portion, and a relatively larger portion bent at an angle to said pointed portion.

2. As an article of manufacture, a rail spike lock, in clip form, comprising a small pointed portion, and a relatively larger portion bent at an angle to said pointed portion and said larger portion having its extending end beveled and bent slightly toward the smaller portion.

3. In a rail spike lock, the combination with a rail, a rail bed plate beneath said rail having apertures therein and a spike therefor, of a' clip having a portion adapted to be inserted into the aperture of the rail plate, said portion adapted to be driven heneath the rail plate upon driving the spike in the tie and through the aperture, and a relatively longer portion projecting from said aperture and above the head of the spike, whereby a portion can be bent over the head to securely lock the spike in position to hold the rail.

4;. In a. 'rail spike lock, the combination with a rail, a rail plate beneath said rail having apertures therein and a spike therefor, of a clip having a short pointed portion adapted to be inserted into the aperture of the rail plate, said pointed portion adapted to be driven beneath the rail plate upon driving the spike in the tie and through the aperture, and a relatively longer portion projecting upwardly from said aperture above the head of the spike whereby said portion above the head of the spike can be bent over the head to securely maintain the spike in position to hold the rail.

5. In a rail spike lock, the combination with a tie, a rail, a rail bed plate having apertures therein, and a rail spike for said bed plate, of a clip comprising a wedge shaped portion adapted to be inserted into the aperture of the rail bed plate, and a relatively longer portion bent at an angle to the wedge shaped portion and extending upwardly from said apertures, said wedge shaped portion arranged to point in a direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal run of the rail and immediately between the bed plate and tie abutting surfaces, and adapted to be driven therebetween by said spike, said longer portion adapted to be bent at an angle to overlie the spike for looking the same when the spike is in position to hold the rail.

6. As an article of manufacture, a rail spike lock in clip form comprising a small pointed portion, the upper and lower surfaces of said pointed portion being gradually tapered to said point, and a relatively larger portion bent at an angle to said pointed portion.

EDWARD K. DEGENER. 

